Flight Corridor Safety Program 2024
Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport
Item No.
10a_supp
Date of Meeting July 26, 2022
2
Flight Corridor Safety Program - Overview
2
• An ongoing program to remove trees around
SEA to improve safety during takeoffs and
landings and replant in their place, native,
lower height trees
• Trees either are penetrating SEA’s airspace or
are expected within approximately the next
five years, to penetrate SEA’s airspace and
pose a hazard to flight operations
• Program first launched in 2014
3
Flight Corridor Safety Program - Purpose
3
• Washington State law
declares that the creation or
establishment of airport
hazards is a “public
nuisance”
• The FAA requires the Port of
Seattle to ensure there are
no obstructions on or
around SEA that could affect
flight safety
4
Obstruction Removal/Replanting Numbers To Date
Property Owner
Trees Removed
Trees Planted/To be Planted
Port of Seattle
789 3,800
WSDOT 102 8,000
Other Public Entities 47 188
Private 40 160
Total
978
12,148
5
Environmental Commitment
• Port-initiated SEPA Process includes public
comment opportunity
• Replanting native species either onsite or nearby
off-site properties
• Replant native species at a 4 to 1 ratio or better
• Utilize best management practices to minimize
environmental impacts
Outreach & Communications
• Agency/city coordination
• Airport-specific listservs
• Connections e-newsletter
• Online open house
• Project-specific email address
6
• Individualized private
property efforts
• Highline Forum briefings
• Public information/input
sessions
• Neighborhood canvassing
• Request for Commission authorization for the ED to:
– Advertise/execute a professional service agreement for technical
expertise/support;
– Complete aerial data collection, field verification and analysis to identify
obstructions at and around airport for 2024 Program scope refinement;
– Conduct environmental review; and
– Execute agreements with public agencies as
needed for purposes of obstruction
management.
• Estimated cost: $500,000
7
Flight Corridor Safety Program 2024
8
Flight Corridor Safety Program 2024
- Schedule
8
Advertisement for Professional Service Agreement 2022 Quarter 3
Aerial Obstruction Data Collection 2023 Quarter 3
Commission Design and Construction Authorization 2024 Quarter 3
Design Start 2024 Quarter 3
Construction Start 2024 Quarter 4
Construction Completion 2025 Quarter 4 to
2026 Quarter 4
9
Flight Corridor Safety Program 2024
- Budget
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary Total
COST ESTIMATE
Original estimate $9,700,000
AUTHORIZATION
Previous authorizations 100,000
Current request for authorization 500,000
Total authorizations, including this request 600,000
Remaining amount to be authorized $9,100,000
10
Flight Corridor Safety Program 2024
- Risk
• The total estimated program cost may change based on the
obstructions identified during the planned fly-over survey in 2023.
– The current total estimated program cost is based on the
estimated obstructions identified in the fly-over survey
conducted back in 2018.
